Envy or Jealousy?

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Envy or Jealousy?

What is the difference between "envy" and "jealousy"?

"Jealousy" is an emotion related to your things (usually a person in a relationship). "Envy" is an emotion related to someone else's things.

In other words, the difference between "envy" and "jealousy" is linked to the person or thing being desired. Typically, "jealousy" is a three-person situation, but "envy" is a two-person situation. For example:
  • I am filled with jealousy when you speak to my girlfriend.
    • (Here, there are three people involved.)
  • I am filled with envy over your new house.
    • (Here, there are two people involved.)
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More about "Envy" and "Jealousy"

Even though the words "envy" and "jealousy" are used interchangeably these days, there is a clear distinction between the two words that is still observed by language purists.

Jealousy over My Things but Envy over Your Things

The noun "jealousy" describes a negative emotion caused by an attack on something we already have (usually a person in a relationship). It contrasts with "envy," which is a negative emotion caused by wanting something owned by someone else (usually a possession or a personal trait).

Examples:
  • I felt jealous when you danced with my wife.
    • ("Jealousy" is about protecting something you already have.)
  • I felt envious of your good looks.
    • ("Envy" is about wanting something somebody else has.)
  • I'm really jealous of your new car.
    • (This should be "envious" not "jealous.")
The adjective "jealous" comes from "jealousy," and the adjective "envious" comes from "envy."

Even Homer Simpson Knows the Difference

This video shows Homer educating Lisa on the distinction between "jealous" and "envious."

JEL on Social Media and Text Speak

The distinction between "envy" and "jealousy" is disappearing fast. The blurring of this distinction is being accelerated by terms such as JEL (jealous), JEAL (jealous), JELLO (jealous), and JELLY (jealous), which are commonly used on social-media platforms to mean "envious," "envy," "jealous," or "jealousy."
Interactive Exercise
Here are three randomly selected questions from a larger exercise, which can be edited, printed to create an exercise worksheet, or sent via email to friends or students.

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See Also

adverse or averse? affect or effect? appraise or apprise? avenge or revenge? bare or bear? complement or compliment? dependant or dependent? discreet or discrete? disinterested or uninterested? e.g. or i.e.? imply or infer? its or it's? material or materiel? poisonous or venomous? practice or practise? principal or principle? tenant or tenet? who's or whose? What are nouns? What are adjectives? List of easily confused words